Should Our Martyrs Die in Vain?

As the Occupy Nigeria protests against fuel subsidy removal by the Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan enter its tenth day today, the Nigerian Red Cross has confirmed that 16 people have been killed and 205 injured so far. The figure includes the following casualties, also confirmed by the Nigerian Red Cross:

·     - Muyideen Mustafa, 23-year-old student, hit by a police bullet in Ilorin, Kwara State on 3 January 2012.

·     - Ademola Aderinde was tortured and killed by the police at Ogba, Lagos State on 9 January 2012.  Clashed between protesters and the police in Lagos have so far resulted in seven injuries and three deaths in total.

·      - Thursday, 5 January 2012, three people were killed and 55 injured when battalions of the Nigerian Mobile Police moved in on non-violent Occupy Nigeria protesters in Kano after the group began an Egyptian-style Tahrir Square occupation of the Silver Jubilee Square.

·      - One person was killed and three injured in Kaduna on the 10 January 2012 when police used tear gas to try to disperse protesters, mostly almajiris and little children, gathered in front of the government house.

       - In Maiduguri, six people have been killed by police bullets

-    We make bold to state that Nigerians will hold President Goodluck Jonathan personally responsible for the lives of these Nigerians that have been taken by Policemen to defend his illegal decision to remove subsidy on petrol.